“An Exercise in Courage” with Emma Kiely-Hampson

A spirited #TechTuesday to all of you Encore fans out there! Today, we’ve got a special treat for our blog readers. We managed to snag the reporter of Newsies herself for a behind-the-scenes scoop on auditions, rehearsals, and more. Read on to hear from Encore’s latest star and “Watch What Happens”:

Encore: Please briefly introduce yourself. What is your background? How have you been involved in the arts in the past?

Emma: I’m Emma Kiely-Hampson! I’m playing Katherine in Encore’s production of Newsies. Musical theatre has always held a large piece of my heart. I’ve always loved to sing and just adore theatre as an art, so from middle school through undergrad I was involved in many productions, both on and off the stage, such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Brundibar.

Encore: How did you hear about auditions for Newsies? What made you want to audition?

Emma: I heard about auditions through a friend and decided that since I hadn’t been involved in theatre for about four years, it would be a fun show to dip my toes back into theatre with. I’d seen Newsies in both film form and on stage and it has always been one of my favorite shows. I am so excited to be a part of it.

Encore: What’s been the biggest challenge in rehearsals so far?

Emma: So far the largest challenge for me in rehearsals has been dancing, specifically tap dancing. I’ve never been too light on my feet, so having to train my body to do it and get out of my head in order to get the dance moves right has been hard. Every time I do get it right, it feels amazing, and I have great teachers and cheerleaders in our choreographer and my other cast members.

Encore: Have you had any “Ah ha!” moments during the rehearsal process?

Emma: My biggest “Ah ha!” moment in the rehearsal process has been when learning (really unlearning and relearning) the music and pace in Katherine’s solo. The song ends on a note that is right on the break of my voice, in between my head-voice and chest-voice range. I was struggling to get the note and not feel strangled. When our music director coached me through it, saying, “Open all of the notes around it,” I could feel my vocal chords get it when I tried again. It was a great feeling, and though I don’t get it right every time, I know I am capable and am confident I can do it.

Encore: What has you most excited about this role and/or production?

Emma: I am most excited about playing Katherine because of who she is; she is a rebel in her own right, though she isn’t of the newsies’ world. She is both sure of herself and trying to prove herself, which is something I’ve felt many times. Though she is anxious about getting things right and making things right, she never backs down, even though she has her doubts about success. And of course, this show is filled with powerful music that, even if Katherine isn’t a part of it onstage, I end up singing because I know it’s part of her heart too.

Encore: What advice would you give to other performers?

Emma: My advice to other performers would be always audition for that show you want to be in, even if you don’t think you’re as good as you need to be. Auditioning is an exercise in courage, and sometimes you have to push yourself farther than you think you are capable of going. Also, remember that your castmates are your teammates. You’re all playing towards the same goal: a great and exciting show. Because of this, it’s so important to treat everyone with kindness and grace: we will all make mistakes or miss something, but remembering that we all will do it and they are there for you is vital. Always support your castmates.

Encore: Describe Encore’s production of Newsies in three words or short phrases.

Emma: Two words and one small phrase to describe this show: Powerful. Exciting. Important for today’s world.

A huge thanks to Emma for taking the time to share her experiences and wisdom with all of us. We look forward to cheering her on from the audience as she taps like crazy and sings her heart out in Newsies, opening July 19th! Get your tickets today and join the fray:

Photos by Shannon McCarthy, Joshua Hampson, Gemma Roberts, and Kim Kiely Photography. Video by Aileen Pangan Christian. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.